Right, as a pretty good summary of my loves is summed up on this blog in my short n sweet bio (God, hubby, wine, nachos etc.) I'm going to pretend they're No.10 and get to the other nine...
1. Glossy fashion magazines
Love 'em. Love the looks for less, the break the budget wish lists, the not-so-natural 'get the natural look' tips, the photoshopped unattainability of the cover stars, the (you know you won't but read it anyway) 'get a bikini body in 7-days' summer staple and the fact that I do really (really, really) buy my favorites (Elle and Marie Claire) for the articles. I love that I'm a bit of a fashion victim, I love that I look at brogues in October, swear to never-ever own a pair and then live in the pair I bought from Topshop all December long.
2. Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream
I love that even the mention of the name, or the spotting of the branding in a delicatessen, takes me right back to 2004/2005. To pulling double waitressing shifts and treating myself to one great big spoonful with a milk and amarula night cap at midnight, to picnics on the carpet with girlfriends, box wine and Sex and the city re-runs.
3. Reality TV
All of it. Every mind-numbing, coma-inducing, brain cell diminishing minute of it. Whether it's housewives or hairdressers or wannabe pop stars, chefs or fashion designers. Whether it's celebrities in jungles/on islands/in Trump's boardroom or an insecure teenage chess team captain trying to be a cheerleader. Love it. All of it.
4. My Dogs
Sadie and Lucy. Both pavement specials, both named after Beatles songs, both given a 5-star VIP pass to the sweet life after less glamorous beginnings in the street life. Both given as much love and attention as hubby and I can because we remember how our hearts broke the day we lost our first pavement special, the legendary Ellie 'bean' Winderley.
5. My family
The one I was born into, the one I married into and the one that befriended me. I am loved, a blessing that I am grateful for every birthday, every bring n braai, every wine o' clock, every time I have sense of humor failure or need advice, to borrow an outfit for a wedding, gardening guidance, dinner party de-drama'ing or a reminder that I'm burning the candle at both ends or an honest bit of feedback that sends this season's harem pants to the charity shop.
6. Being called a 'Chop!'
Strange, but true. About two years into married life, hubby took to calling me a 'chop'. After about the 98th time I asked him a) why? and b) please to stop. He replied, "You obviously don't know what chop means." "Obviously not," I replied. "Well," he said matter of factly, "it means 'I love you' in Alaskan." It doesn't, really. But it does in our house.
7. My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn, the Ascot Opening Day choreography, "Why can't a woman be more like a man?" "In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly happen..." "Cup, cup, cup, cup, of, of, of, of.... by George she's got it!" What's not to love?
8. Beautifully crafted things
Handbags, shoes, impressionist paintings, shoes, drawings, shoes, red velvet cupcakes, renaissance sculpture, sub-titled foreign films, vintage blazers, antique furniture, chunky knitted cardigans, old-school quilts, oh, and did I mention shoes?
9. My country
The people, the culture, the contradictions on every street corner, the now nows and the just nows, the yeah no yes no fines, the boerewors rolls, the gees, the first world ambition and the third world authenticity, the sunshine, the short winters, the mountain that looks like a table, the panoramic cityscape views from Randlords, the Shark Tank, the Silver Orange, the fact that Topshop's coming to town, the fact that whenever I travel I climb off of the plane at OR Thambo and utter the cliché, "There's no place like home."
1. Glossy fashion magazines
Love 'em. Love the looks for less, the break the budget wish lists, the not-so-natural 'get the natural look' tips, the photoshopped unattainability of the cover stars, the (you know you won't but read it anyway) 'get a bikini body in 7-days' summer staple and the fact that I do really (really, really) buy my favorites (Elle and Marie Claire) for the articles. I love that I'm a bit of a fashion victim, I love that I look at brogues in October, swear to never-ever own a pair and then live in the pair I bought from Topshop all December long.
2. Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream
I love that even the mention of the name, or the spotting of the branding in a delicatessen, takes me right back to 2004/2005. To pulling double waitressing shifts and treating myself to one great big spoonful with a milk and amarula night cap at midnight, to picnics on the carpet with girlfriends, box wine and Sex and the city re-runs.
3. Reality TV
All of it. Every mind-numbing, coma-inducing, brain cell diminishing minute of it. Whether it's housewives or hairdressers or wannabe pop stars, chefs or fashion designers. Whether it's celebrities in jungles/on islands/in Trump's boardroom or an insecure teenage chess team captain trying to be a cheerleader. Love it. All of it.
4. My Dogs
Sadie and Lucy. Both pavement specials, both named after Beatles songs, both given a 5-star VIP pass to the sweet life after less glamorous beginnings in the street life. Both given as much love and attention as hubby and I can because we remember how our hearts broke the day we lost our first pavement special, the legendary Ellie 'bean' Winderley.
5. My family
The one I was born into, the one I married into and the one that befriended me. I am loved, a blessing that I am grateful for every birthday, every bring n braai, every wine o' clock, every time I have sense of humor failure or need advice, to borrow an outfit for a wedding, gardening guidance, dinner party de-drama'ing or a reminder that I'm burning the candle at both ends or an honest bit of feedback that sends this season's harem pants to the charity shop.
6. Being called a 'Chop!'
Strange, but true. About two years into married life, hubby took to calling me a 'chop'. After about the 98th time I asked him a) why? and b) please to stop. He replied, "You obviously don't know what chop means." "Obviously not," I replied. "Well," he said matter of factly, "it means 'I love you' in Alaskan." It doesn't, really. But it does in our house.
7. My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn, the Ascot Opening Day choreography, "Why can't a woman be more like a man?" "In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly happen..." "Cup, cup, cup, cup, of, of, of, of.... by George she's got it!" What's not to love?
8. Beautifully crafted things
Handbags, shoes, impressionist paintings, shoes, drawings, shoes, red velvet cupcakes, renaissance sculpture, sub-titled foreign films, vintage blazers, antique furniture, chunky knitted cardigans, old-school quilts, oh, and did I mention shoes?
9. My country
The people, the culture, the contradictions on every street corner, the now nows and the just nows, the yeah no yes no fines, the boerewors rolls, the gees, the first world ambition and the third world authenticity, the sunshine, the short winters, the mountain that looks like a table, the panoramic cityscape views from Randlords, the Shark Tank, the Silver Orange, the fact that Topshop's coming to town, the fact that whenever I travel I climb off of the plane at OR Thambo and utter the cliché, "There's no place like home."
Comments
What is not to love aboout Marshamallows and Merlot.
I guess it is just getting past the robot police who are convinced I am onw. Attempt number two to type in the two words to prove I am human... there will probably be a few more to come and none of you will know. Perhaps I am a robot?
Attempt number 7... here goes
and number 9...persistence is my signature strength
number 14 attempt to prove I am not a robot